Mechanism for weighing and discharging articles into selected compartments



Feb. '24, 1948.

4 D. B. TOLLEY 2,436,534 MECHANISM FOR WEIGHING AND DISCHARGING ARTICLES INTO SELECTED COMPARTMENTS Filed March 31, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORI 301mm 5 7541.5)?

Feb. 24, 1948.

A D. B. TOLLEY 2,436,534 MECHANISM FOR WEIGHING AND DISCHARGING ARTICLES INTO SELECTED CQMPARTMENTS Filed March 31, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

- lever balances with Patented F eb. 24, 1948 2.436.534 MECHANISM FOR w CHARGING COMPARTMENTS 2,436,534 ICE E GHING AND ms,- ARTICLES m'ro SELECTED Donald B. Tolley, Macomb, n1., assignoit to Globe American Corporation, Kokomo, Ina, a cor poration Application March 31, 1944, Serial No. 528,881 Claims. (01. 209-121) This invention relates to an apparatus for automatically grading articles, such as eggs, according to weight, being also applicable to other articles wherein it is desired to selectively group them relative to each other within predetermined weights.

The invention contemplates a machine of the endless carrier or rotary type having a series of a counterweighted tray mounted on each end for carrying the article to be graded, and in association with a series of bins into which the articles are selectively ejected from the tray, dependent upon the extent to which the weight of the article depresses the balance.

The object of this invention is to simplify and render more positive the action of the directing element and ejector for directing the trays to the position for either ejecting or not ejecting the article into an associated bin wherein the weight of the article lies in a twilight zone.

Another feature of the invention resides in combining the function of the directing element and ejector to serve both the purpose of directing the scale when the weight is in the twilight zone and ejecting the article therefrom into its proper bin when of a predetermined weight.

Another feature of the invention resides in mounting a roller in association with each bin, adapted to serve as the directing element and ejector, and for engagement by the article supporting tray upon the scale, or a selecting finger associated therewith, such that the tray or fingers will be caused to roll under or over the directing element or the ejector to prevent such abutting engagement as to jam the machine.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawings and the following description and claims:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the grader. Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, showing a portion thereof in elevation. Fig. 3 is an elevation of one of the scales showing it being guided under one of the directing elements. Fig. 4.is"-the same as Fig. 3, showing it being directed thereover. Fig. 5 is a schematic view of the different relative heights of the bins and directing elements progressing from left to right of Fig. 1.

In the drawings there is shown a grader having a supporting base It] about which are mounted a plurality of bins ll extending radially about" a turntable [2. Each of said bins is adapted to receive those articles, such as eggs indicated at 13, of the prescribed weight within certain predetermined limits. Beginning at the left-hand side of Fig. 1, the first bin is adapted to receive articles of the heaviest weight. The next bin-receives those articles coming within the next weight group, and etc. on to the last binwhich receives the articles coming within the lightest permissible weight. Those articles that are too light for grading may be carried on for discharge in any desired manner or the ejector in the last bin may be arranged to remove articles too light to have been previously ejected.

The turntable i2 is rotatably supported upon the base It) by a bearing l4 being rotated by a driven belt 15 and pulleys is from a reduction motor indicated at H. Mounted at regular in tervals about the periphery of the turntable there are supporting brackets I8 each of which supports a radially directed balance scale comprising a beam l9 and compensating lever 20. Each scale is provided with an article receiving tray 2! on the outer end thereof and a compensating weight 22 on the inner end. By reason of the parallelogram action between the lever 20 and beam I 9 the trays are always maintained in horizontal position irrespective of the movement of the scale. Centrally mounted on the turntable there is provided a rubber faced bumper 23 engageable by the inner ends of the scales. When the scales are free, the counterbalance weights 22 are so adjusted that the article willdepress the tray to a predetermined level within a prescribed range. However, at-the loading station, opposite the bins ll, there is a wire supporting frame 24 upon which the scale rides.

The bins H are separated by partitions 25 and at or adjacent each of said partitions there is mounted a. directing element or roller 26. Said roller is supported to freely rotate between the ears 2'! on a supporting bracket 28, said supporting bracket extending through the bottom of the bin and carried by a standard 29 which is secured to the base to.

Each of the trays 2! is provided on its leading side with a selecting finger 30 which preferably has a sharp pointed end for engagement and rolling contact with the directing roller 26, as indicated in Figs. 3and 4. This arrangement is such that if the weight of the article depresses the tray into a twilight zone with respect to one of the directing rollers, the pointed end of the selecting finger will engage such roller. But by reason of the pointed end thereof and the cylindrical surface of the roller, said finger will be caused to either roll under or over the roller and not become wedged thereagainst. Thus, the tray 2| is caused to be guided by the finger, either under or over the roller. It is to be understood, however, that wherein the weight of the article is not such as to depress the tray in the twilight" zone, it, together with its finger, may either pass under the roller free of contact therewith, or over the roller, In this manner, as the tray progresses, and by reason of the stepped up position of the rollers at different relative heights, if it passes over the first roller, it may pass under the second or one of the subsequent rollers. As

the tray'passes underone orthesroll'ers '26; such roller acts aslanhejector for engagingqand ejecting the article from the tray into the bin with which tray: directed" under -saidwoller :Wlll be ejected i therebyiintothe associated bin.

said ejector roller is associated. In this action,; 1

by reason of the curved rolling surface and the. angular disposition of theeejerting roller relative to the path of travel of thearticlathe ejecting action will be given a sliding glancing impact such as to minimize injury tofthe :article. Itlmay likewise be noted that byweason'of' the rolling cylindrical surface of the directing roller and ejector, the danger of injurytor-an operator caught between the progressing tray and roller will be eliminated. By reason of the varying relative heights of the ejectors, the traywith its arti-le willbe caused a-to'ipass under one'orzth pther-zand the, article ithereby ejected into the bin=associated with the :"particular ej ctor under which the tray passes, depending upon 7thexextentathatthe scale is de- :pressed by the weight of thearticle. Whereas in "-its simplifi'ed'iorm'the finger 30 is shown as :mounted d rectly upon the leading side of "the -tray; or formed integral therewith,.it is obvious that the fin 'eicmayi be. otherwise 'associated withe the :tray. L kewise, whereasxfor s mplification the'roller' 26 servesboth as a d recting element sand an ejector, ilt' may' serveionly :as one or the :other, Thus; it may serve as adire ting element,

as above .described;whereas an add tional element ,1

'smaybe assoc ated w th thebinratithe-proper posi- F': tion to engage "and eject theart cle from the tray passing thereunder. "Similarly, whereas the roll r is shown "inits'most simple arrangement as being mounted upon the-bin, it obviously may-- be otherwise mountediiln :association with .the

hin.

Wher'ein the term bin is usedherein to desig- -nate the receptacles into which the graded'articles are discharged; it to :be .nnderstood that said:

term is employed in its broadest sense to include "ba s-chutes conveyors cr thelike.

The invention claimed'iis: "1. A weight grader "including a plurality of i sorting bins for receiving articles graded according to their relative weights;-aplurality of scales, each of saidscales being providedwith an -article supporting tray, means--forsupporting said scales to be progressively movable==over :s'aid bins, "a

' direct ng roller pivotally mountedadjacent each bin, said rollers extending in progressively stepped 'planes; a selecting member associatedwith ea h scale movable therewith in a path through said *rollers, anda cam portion on the upper and lower edge of'sa-id member-'engageabl'e withpne of saidr'ollers depending uponthe position of its scale *for camm'ing said member andscale under-or over such engagedro-ller, whereby 'sai'd -'ro'ller will be causedto engage and elect "the article from its tray into its associated bin.

12. A weight gradenincludin'g aiplurality of .:.sorting .bins' for receiving'articles'graded accord- ,i-ng .to their. relative weights, a plurality of scales,

.,,each of said scales lbeingiprovided with an ar--,

r-ticle supporting tray, means 'for supporting said scalestoibe progressively movable over saidlbins, "1a directing roller pivotal-1ymounted-adjacent each bin, said rollers extending in .1 progressive1y ---stepped planes, a selecting finger :formed to pro-.:

tject .from'the deciding-edge of each 10f said trays cnovable therewith 'in aepathvthroughsaid ele- ,sments, and a taper-edcamflsunface formed-on said rfinger for camming saidtray'over or below anenegaged vroller, :whereby an article carried "by the 3. A weight grader including a plurality of sort- ;ing bins for receiving articles according to their relative weights, a plurality of radially-extending their ends, a counterbalanced tray on the outer end of each scale for receiving one of said arxticles, a rotatable/support for said scales movll-107 able to direct :said trays progressively over said bins, a series of directing and ejecting rollers l rotatably supported in association with said bins at different relative heights thereover, one of said rollers being associated with each bin, and means on each tray depressible by the weight of the article and engageablewith one of said rollers to direct said tray thereby, said roller acting V toeject the article from said tray upon direct- ;ingsaid tray thereunder while permitting said article to remain upon said tray when said tray is directed thereover.

4. A weight grader including a plurality of vsorting bins for receiving articles according to their relative weights, a:plurality.of radiallyextendingbalance scales pivotally supported insaid bins, a series of directing and ejecting rollers rotatably supported on said bins at difierent relative heights thereover, one of said rollers being-associated with each bin, and a selecting finger having tapered cam surfaces thereon forwardly of the leading edge of each tray, said finger being depressible by the weightof the article carried in said tray for engagement with one of said rollers lto direct said tray thereunder when in one p0sition and direct said tray thereovcr when in another position, said roller acting to engage and eject the article from said tray upon said tray being directed-thereunderby said finger.

5.'A weightgrader including a plurality of sorting binsfor receiving articles graded ac- :cording to their relative weights, a plurality of scales, each of said scales being provided with an 'rarticle supporting tray, means for supporting said scalesand binsformovement relative to each other with the-scales above said bins, a directfling roller pivotally' mounted adjacent each bin,

said irollers extending in progressively stepped -planes, and a selecting member associated with "each scale positioned for engagement by one of being operative to elevate their respective trays said rollers depending upon the article carry- 'ing position of thescale, said'selecting members "to by-:pass one of said rollers upon engagement therewith, or depress its respective tray for causling the article carried thereby to be ejected into xfile of this patent:

the associated bin by the engaged roller.

DONALD 11B. TOLLEY.

, REFERENCES CITED 'The following references are of record in the UNITED STATES PATENTS .N umber Name Date a 925,950 Rowland June 22, 1909 1;1,020;981 Hebrank Mar. 26, 1912 --1,324,693 Smith Sept. 22, 1931 2,092,109 Dodge V Sept. '7, 1937 2,322,862 Malhiot June 29, 1943 1,368,321 .Ow en,. Jan. 30, 1945 

